Strip paving device



July 12, 1966 R. M. GUNTERT ETAL 3,260,178

STRIP PAVING DEVICE Filed March 31, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 12 1956 R. M. GUNTERT ETAL 3,260,178

STRIP PAVING DEVICE Filed March 3l, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 12, 1966 R. M. GUNTERT ETAL. 3,260,178

STRIP PAVING DEVICE Filed March 31, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent C) 3,260,178 STRIP PAVING DEVICE Ronald M. Guntert and Wilbur F. Earley, Stockton, Calif., assgnors to Guntert & Zimmerman Const. Div., Inc., Stockton, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Mar. 31, 1964, Ser. No. 356,271 6 Claims. (Cl. 94--46) This invention relates to machines for pouring and nishing concrete slabs and particularly to `a machine of this general type which is self-propelled and operative as it advances to lay a concrete slab of considerable width.

Such a machine, as shown for example in our United States Patent No. 2,864,452, is'used extensively `for paving highways, airpl-ane runways, and other relatively wide concrete areas which require two or more passes of the machine to complete.

The concrete mix pouring and finishing .apparatus of the machine is supported from, and suspended between, transversely spaced ground-engaging traction units, one of which is disposed at` each side of the machine. Because of the unavoidably heavy weight of the machine, as a whole, it is impractical to support the near one of the traction units on the edge portion of a slab already poured and so that upon the next pass the machine will lay a contiguous slab in abutting relation to such already poured slab. On `the other hand, if the near traction unit-upon such next pass of the machineis run on the ground in a path adjacent but to one side of the already poured slab, an unpaved strip will, in the absence of the present invention, be left fbetween such poured slab and said contiguous slab.

It is, therefore, the major object of -this invention to provide a concrete slab laying machine with a novel device (which may be an attachment) which-while permitting the near traction unit t-o so run on the groundis operative, las the machine adv-ances and lays the contiguous slab except for such unpaved strip, to pave the latter after passage and to the rear of said near traction unit. l Another object of the present invention is to provide a concrete slab laying machine with a novel device, as above, which is arranged so that a certain quantity of concrete mix is fed from the hopper of the machine and deposited in a course extending along the unpaved Strip and .between said near traction unit and the adjacent edge of the contiguous slab being laid by said machine; the device including means to pave said strip-from such predeposited course of concrete miX--after passage and to the rear of said near traction unit.

A further important object of this invention is to construct said device in a manner whereby it is operative to pave said strip to the same level as that of such already poured slab and said contiguous slab so that the paving operation when complete will present a smooth and common level appearance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable strip paving device and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel method of paving the strip between such already poured FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the strip paving device as F3,260,178 Patented July 12, 1966 ICC mounted in connection with a slab laying machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the device as so mounted.. line 3-3 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged transverse section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and to the characters of reference marked t-hereon, the strip paving device of the present invention may be provided either as a permanent part of, or as an attachment to, a slab laying machine; such a machine being shown in our United States Patent No. 2,864,452.

Such slab laying machine embodies a pair of -transversely spaced bolsters indicated generally at 1, and each of which is supported lby a driven ground-engaging endless track unit 2 whose driving mechanism includes a transverse shaft 3 at the rear end of such unit. Extending between and supported by the lbolsters 1 is the concrete slab laying apparatus of the machine; such apparatus being indicated generally at 4 and including a transversely extending concrete mix distributing hopper 5.

With advance of the machine, an unpaved strip 6-on which the related track unit 2 runs-is initially Ileft between the already poured slab 7 and a contiguous slab being laid by such advancing machine.

The device of the present invention, and which paves the strip 6 behind the track unit 2 as the machine advances, is constructed and mounted as follows:

Pivoted on and extending rearwardly from the opposite ends of the related ltransverse shaft 3 are rigid parallel beams 8 whose front ends thus .str-addle the track unit 2; the rear ends of such beams 8 being suspended in selected position by chains 9 which extend downwardly and rearwardly from turnbuckles 10 attached to the rear end of the bolster 1.

Disposed under lthe rear end portions of the beams 8 and thence extending laterally inward at a forward diagonal, is an auxiliary smoothing pan 11. Intermediate its front and -relar edges, .the pan 11 is hung from the beams 8-for pivotal movement in a vertical plane lengthwise of the machine-by means of lugs 12 upstnading from the bracing beams 13 of said pan and pivoted on the beams 8 as shown. Such pivotal movement is prevented by means of studs 14 upstanding from [the rear ends of the bracing beams 13 and projecting in vertically adjustable relation through ears 15 rigid with the beams 8 at their rear ends. By reason of 'this arrangement, the pan 11 may be tilted yand set with its bottom surace at any suitbale forward slope relative to the ground.

A `tube type vibrator 16 extends along the forward edge of the pan 11 in front of and parallel tosuch edge and near the bottom of the pan. Such vibrator is carried in pan mounted brackets 17, and the shaft of said vibrator is rotated by means of an electric motor 18 mounted on certain ones of the bracing beams 13 and operatively connected to said vibnator shaft by suitable means such as a belt drive 19.

With the pan 11 and beams 8 connected in unitary lrelation as described, and to enable such unit to be 'accurately adjusted to assure that the bottom level of the pan 11 coincides with or matches the upper surface of the .already poured con-crete slab 7-and on which the adjacent Iend of the pan rides-the following larrangement lis provided:

Pivoted `at its forward end (as at 20) on the outermost beam 8 near the forward end of the latter, is a rearwardly extending auxiliary frame 21 which adjacent its rear end supports 'a transverse-axis froller 22 which pides on the slab 7. The auxiliary fname 21 intermediate its ends is provided on its outer side with a tapped boss 23 through which a vertical adjustable hand screw 24 is threaded; said screw being turnably mounted in a bracket 25 secured on the adjacent beam 8. As the frame 21 cannot be lowered-because of the engagement of the roller 22 with the concreteadjustment of the screw 24 will cause the beam and pan unit to be raised or lowered, as will be evident. In order to assure that the roller 22 will ride on a smooth, unobstructed surface, a laterally outwardly extending, rearwardly diagonaled cleaner blade 26 is mounted on :and under the frame 21 in front of said roller; the blade 26 just clearing the slab 7.

In order to feed a controlled quantity of concrete mix from the hopper 'and to deposit such mix in a course extending laterally inwardly of track unit 2 and along the strip 6, whence said concrete mix will be subjected to the .spreading action of a detlector blade (hereinafter de scribed) and the smoothing action of the pan 11, the following arrangement is provided:

Projecting rearwardly from under the hopper 5, 'at the end thereof nearest the related bolster 1, are transversely spaced parallel rconcrete mix guide plates 27 and 28. These plates `are set on edge; the plate 27 being the one nearest the bolster 1 and depending to approximately ground level, whi-le palte 28 is at the adjacent end of the main lsmoothing pan or screed 29 ofthe apparatus 4. The lower edge of the plalte 28 is on a level with the bottom of the screed 29, as shown in FIG. 5, ,and both plates 27 `and 2S extend some distance rearwardly beyond :the screed 29, as shown in FIG. 1. It will also be seen from FIG. 1 that the auxiliary pan 11 exten-ds not `only across the course of concrete mix delivering from the rear end of the channel 30 formed between the plates 27 and 28, but also iacross the p ath of movement of the .track unit 2 at a point rearwardly thereof.

In order to deflect a portion of the course of concrete mixwdeliverin g from the ychannel 30-laterally out and to ythe rear of tnack unit 2, a transverse dellector blade 31 is disposed in fron-t of the pan 11 and extends behind said track unit 2. At its laterally inner end, the blade 31 is pivoted, as at 32, on an arm 33 rigid `with and projecting forwardly from the laterally inner end of the pan 11; the lower edge of the blade 31 being slightly above the level of the pan 11, as shown in FIG. 3. The blade 31 is angularly disposed on a diagonal similar .to that of the pan 11. To enable such angularity of the blade 31 to be altered to suit dillerent operating conditions, a bracket 34 is secured on ithe laterally inner bezam 8 in overlying lrelation to said blade 31; :the bracket 34 being provided with a slot 35 concentric with the blade pivot 32, and a clamping bolt 36 projecting from the blade and through the slot in adjustable clamping relation.

The concrete lmix as fed from the hopper 5, `and comprising the course delivering from the channel 30, must be in suiloient quantity to pave the strip 6 from side to side and to the same level as the already poured slab 7 and the contiguous slab being laid upon advance of the machine. Thus, said course of concrete mix is of substantially greater depth than said slabs; the amount of the rnix in such course being regulated as follows:

The height 4'of the entry passage 37 from the hopper 5 -to the channel 30' (see FIG. 3) is considerably gre-alter than the thickness of the slab formed under the pan 29; the actual depth of the concrete mix passing into the channel 30 being determined by means of a cut-off plate 38. Such plate 38 is slidably mounted between the plates 27 and 28, at the exit end of the passage 37, for vertical adjustment relative thereto. Such adjustment is effected by means of a pair of transversely spaced vertical hand screws 39 connected to Iand upstanding fro-m the plate 38 and threaded through lugs 40 fixed on the adjacent cross beam 41 ofthe apparatus 4.

Operation By reason Off the above described structure, it will be seen that as the machine advances, and with the hopper 5 kept full of concrete mix, a contiguous slab the full width of the main pan or screed 29 will be poured under the same from the hopper; the thickness of such slab being, of course, the same as that of the previously poured slab 7. At the same time, concrete mix to a greater depth, as determined by the setting of the plate 38, will pass under the latter from the hopper and form a temporarily conlined course of concrete mix in the channel 30. Whenwith the advance of the machine-the course of concrete mix from the channel 30 is progressively worked by the deflector blade 31, some of such concrete mix will pass under the blade and substantially straight back in strip 6 to the depth of and side-merging with the main or contiguous slab being poured, while the remainder will be engaged by and deflected 'laterally out by said blade so as to fill in the remainder of the strip 6 rearwardly of t-he track unit 2. A'll of the concrete mix in the strip 6 is then acted :on by the smoothing pian 11 and, as a result, .said strip is effectively paved from side to side and to the same level as ,the already poured slab and the contiguous slab also laid as the machine advances.

While we have here shown and described the strip paving device as being mounted on one side only of the machine, such a device may be also mounted on the opposite side of the machine in the event that it is desired to pour, with one pass of the machine, a finished slab extending the full distance between two previously poured slabs separated by the full width of the machine.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a strip paving method and device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred details of said method and device still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from- -the spinit of the invention, as dened by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent is desired.

1. ln a concrete slab laying machine which includes side supporting units adapted for engagement with and movable along the ground, and a main slab pouring and laying apparatus connected to and extending between the units, said apparatus including a slab smoothing pan terminating at one side short of the adjacent supporting unit to leave a space on the ground therebetween, and a concrete mix supply hopper feeding under the pan and having a portion extending across said space; a pair of transversely spaced, channel forming plates extending rearwardly from under said hopper portion and having top edges above the level of the pan to define the side edges of said space, the laterally outer one of said plates depending to ground level, adjustable cut-off means to feed concrete mix from said hopper portion into the channel in a quantity suficient to pave said space and the ground area initially engaged by said adjacent supporting unit to the same depth as the slab under the pan, and means rearwardly of said plates and channel functioning with the advance of the machine to deflect sufficient of said quantity of concrete mix laterally outwardly from the space between the plates and into the area behind said supporting unit to the same depth as the mix remaining in such space.

2. A structure, as in claim 1, in which the last named means comprising a laterally diagonal dellector blade overlying said space and area and disposed behind said one supporting unit, the lower edge of the blade being spaced from the ground at substantially the level of the pan, a separate smoothing pan behind the blade for the full transverse extent of said space and area, and means supporting the blade and separate pan from said one supporting unit in trailing relation thereto and for vertical adjustment.

3. A structure, as in claim 2, in which said blade and pan supporting means includes a pair of transversely spaced, rigidly connected beams extendinglengthwise of the machine in overlying relation to the blade and separate pan and supporting the same, means pivoting the beams at their forward ends on the sides and adjacent the rear end of said adjacent supporting unit, and means mounted on the laterally outermost beam to adjust the same vertically about its pivot.

4. A structure, as in claim 3, in which said means on the laterally outermost beam comprises an auxillary frame extending alongside said laterally outermost beam and pivoted at its forward end thereto, a roller mounted on said auxiliary frame adapted to ride on the surface of an adjacent already poured concrete slab, and means between the auxiliary frame and said beam to adjustably swing said frame relative to the beam.

5. A structure, as in claim 3, with means mounting said separate pan on the beams for adjustment relative thereto and independently of the adjustment of said one beam.

6. In a concrete slab layingy machine which includes side supporting units adapted for engagement with and movable along the ground, and a main slab pouring and laying apl ing plates extending from under a relatively small p0rtion of the hopper nearest one supporting unit, the laterally outer one of said plates depending to ground level and the other plate along its lower edge terminating at the level of the poured slab, both plates projecting upwardly a predetermined distance above the level of such slab, means to feed concrete from the hopper into the space between the plates in a quantity in excess of that discharged from the remainder of the hopper suicient to pave the ground area initially engaged by said one supporting unit to the same depth as the main slab, and means functioning with the advance of the machine to deect such excess mix from between the plates rearwardly thereof and into the area behind said supporting unit to the same depth as said slab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,619 l 1/ 1934 Hemstreet 94-44 2,054,437 9/1936 Mosel 94--46 2,116,468 5/1938 Cost 94-44 2,252,717 8/ 1941 Lundbye 94-44 2,522,610 9/ 1950 Gordon 94-44 2,864,452 12/ 1958 Guntert 94-46 X 3,035,499 5 1962 Domenghetti 94-46 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Exmfner. 

1. IN A CONCRETE SLAB LAYING MACHINE WHICH INCLUDES SIDE SUPPORTING UNITS ADAPTED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH AND MOVABLE ALONG THE GROUND, AND A MAIN SLAB POURING AND LAYING APPARATUS CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UNITS, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING A SLAB SMOOTHING PAN TERMINATING AT ONE SIDE SHORT OF THE AJDACENT SUPPORTING UNIT TO LEAVE A SPACE ON THE GROUND THEREBETWEEN, AND A CONCRETE MIX SUPPLY HOPPER FEEDING UNDER THE PAN AND HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING ACROSS SAID SPACE; A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED, CHANNEL FORMING PLATES EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROM UNDER SAID HOPPER PORTION AND HAVING TOP EDGES ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE PAN TO DEFINE THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID SPACE, THE LATERALLY OUTER ONE OF SAID PLATES DEPENDING TO GROUND LEVEL, ADJUSTABLE CUT-OFF MEANS TO FEED CONCRETE MIX FROM SAID HOPPER PORTION INTO THE CHANNEL IN A QUANTITY SUFFICIENT TO PAVE SAID SPACE AND THE GROUND AREA INITIALLY ENGAGED BY SAID ADJACENT SUPPORTING UNIT TO THE SAME DEPTH AS THE SLAB UNDER THE PAN, AND MEANS REARWARDLY OF SAID PLATES AND CHANNEL FUNCTIONING WITH THE ADVANCE OF THE MACHINE TO DEFLECT SUFFICIENT OF SAID QUANTITY OF CONCRETE MIX LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM THE SPACE BETWEEN THE PLATES AND INTO THE AREA BEHIND SAID SUPPORTING UNIT TO THE SAME DEPTH AS THE MIX REMAINING IN SUCH SPACE. 